NTSB investigations: Cessna 421C

7 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Cessna 421C, where the first occurrence was “Loss of control - in flight”. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

19832026

NTSB investigations: Cessna 421C per year, 1983–2026: 7 cases
1983	1
1985	2
1990	1
1992	1
1995	1
2003	1

Where

Open the map

Latest cases

Query with SQL

SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('2076016', '2076017') AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 250)) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('2076016', '2076017')
      AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o.\"occurrenceNumber\" = 1 AND o.\"occurrenceCode\" = 250))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('2076016', '2076017')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 250))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.

NTSB LAX04FA066Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 421C · Claremont, CAthe pilot became lost/disoriented during the approach, failed to maintain course alignment with the missed approach procedure, and subsequently lost control of the airplane.Dec 15, 2003 · N6887L · Destroyed NTSB LAX95FA321Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 421C · Phoenix, AZThe pilot's failure to maintain positive aircraft control, a proper airspeed and fly a proper approach path during final approach. Contributing factors to the accident were the pilot's physiological condition, impairment as a result of using a sedating…Sep 2, 1995 · N3911C · Destroyed NTSB SEA93FA035Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 421C · Wilsonville, ORThe pilot-in-command's failure to maintain control of the aircraft.Dec 13, 1992 · N98489 · Destroyed NTSB DEN90FA085Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 421-C · Boulder, COA loss of airplane control as a result control interference by the passenger following a struggle between the pilot and the passenger.Apr 1, 1990 · N2655V · Destroyed NTSB MIA86FA014Accident · Minor injuriesField investigationFinal reportCessna 421C · Ft.Lauderdale, FLThe acft crashed on the arpt during an on demand air taxi flt. The plt stated that on final apch he encountered turbulence and rain. As he broke out of the rain the glare from the sun interferred with his visual perception. A go around was attempted but the…Oct 18, 1985 · N657WM · Substantial damage NTSB DEN85FA125Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportCessna 421C · Las Vegas, NMThe acft was landed in a pasture about 2 miles from the arpt after the acft began to descen 'behind the power curve' after takeoff. The plt said he used full power for takeoff but the takeoff was longer than normal. The da was computed to be 9286 ft. after…May 5, 1985 · N8343G · Substantial damage NTSB CHI83FA383Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportCessna 421C · Centerto, INThe plt reported that during a climb after takeoff, he engaged the autopilot. While making an entry on a trip sheet, he felt a bump & noted that the acft had started to descend. He disengaged the autopilot & the nose pitched down violently. Reducing power had…Aug 16, 1983 · N386G · Destroyed